Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Advanced Race Guide (OGL)

Get the most out of your heritage with the Pathfinder RPG Advanced Race Guide! Embrace your inner monster by playing one of 30 iconic races from mythology and gaming history, or build an entirely new race of your own. If classic races are more your style, go beyond the stereotypes for elves, dwarves, and the other core races with new options and equipment to help you stand out from the crowd.

The Pathfinder RPG Advanced Race Guide is a bold new companion to the Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook. This imaginative tabletop game builds on more than 10 years of
system development and an Open Playtest featuring more than 50,000 gamers to create a cutting-edge RPG experience that brings the all-time best-selling set of fantasy rules into
the new millennium.

The 256-page Pathfinder RPG Advanced Race Guide includes:

New rules and options to help you customize all seven of the classic core races, including new racial traits, racial
subtypes, and racial archetypes.

30 exotic races, from mischievous goblins and reptilian kobolds to crow-headed tengus and deadly drow, each with complete rules for use as player characters, plus archetypes, alternate racial traits, and other options for maximum customization.

A complete and balanced system for creating an unlimited number of new races, mixing and matching powers and abilities to form characters and cultures specific to your campaign.

Tons of new race-specific equipment, feats, spells, and magic items for each of the races detailed!

If there are racial-based Archetypes in the book, I'd like to see rules and suggestions for making your own racial Archetypes, Racial Prestige Classes, and alternate racial traits. That'd be pretty awesome.

You should read the description. Every playable race in the entire game will be in this book.

Plus new ones you can make from scratch.

Erik, can you settle a question for me? Is the dhampyr going to have abilities that it does not already have as a result of the previously printed material? I'm holding up a decision based on this for our next campaign. Thanks.

You should read the description. Every playable race in the entire game will be in this book.

Plus new ones you can make from scratch.

Erik, can you settle a question for me? Is the dhampyr going to have abilities that it does not already have as a result of the previously printed material? I'm holding up a decision based on this for our next campaign. Thanks.

Every race in the book includes new material. It's not just the stats you already have from the monster book presented in Core Rulebook format.

You should read the description. Every playable race in the entire game will be in this book.

Plus new ones you can make from scratch.

Erik, can you settle a question for me? Is the dhampyr going to have abilities that it does not already have as a result of the previously printed material? I'm holding up a decision based on this for our next campaign. Thanks.

Every race in the book includes new material. It's not just the stats you already have from the monster book presented in Core Rulebook format.

Erik, can you settle a question for me? Is the dhampyr going to have abilities that it does not already have as a result of the previously printed material? I'm holding up a decision based on this for our next campaign. Thanks.

Every race in the book includes new material. It's not just the stats you already have from the monster book presented in Core Rulebook format.

There is a difference between new available options (feats, alternate race traits, etc) and changing the base stats. Although as a GM, my advice is make whatever your decision is now, based on how you want it to be. No reason to hold up playing for rules in a book that will come 6 months from now.

You should read the description. Every playable race in the entire game will be in this book.

Plus new ones you can make from scratch.

Erik, can you settle a question for me? Is the dhampyr going to have abilities that it does not already have as a result of the previously printed material? I'm holding up a decision based on this for our next campaign. Thanks.

Every race in the book includes new material. It's not just the stats you already have from the monster book presented in Core Rulebook format.

Is it April yet?

Impatient are we, well I also hate waiting. But if the product is to be done right, it needs time bake into the best possible ARG

You should read the description. Every playable race in the entire game will be in this book.

Plus new ones you can make from scratch.

Erik, can you settle a question for me? Is the dhampyr going to have abilities that it does not already have as a result of the previously printed material? I'm holding up a decision based on this for our next campaign. Thanks.

Every race in the book includes new material. It's not just the stats you already have from the monster book presented in Core Rulebook format.

Is it April yet?

Impatient are we, well I also hate waiting. But if the product is to be done right, it needs time bake into the best possible ARG

...
Coincidentally, this may be the first Hardcover that wasn't setting specific that doesn't use the 3.5 brand of cake mix, which is very exciting!

Most of the Hard Cover books are non-setting specific, (except the inner sea book)

Exactly, and aside from that book, there is obviously a lot of 3.5 flavors in the entire hardcover range, from the Core Rulebook all the way up to Ultimate Combat. For example, the Magus is highly reminiscent of the Daggerspell Mage prestige class and the Barbarian gets a Frenzied Berserker-esque archetyoe, among other things. The Advanced Race Guide has the potential to be the first book without 3.5 influences.

Years ago Dragon Magazine had an issue where you could play Dragons as PC's. Leveling would increase your HD, powers, spell-casting, etc...By the end of the 20 level progression the player was a young adult dragon, I believe. I loved it a lot and even got to use it a couple of times. Does Paizo have any intentions to possibly include this idea in the ARG or perhaps in a Campaign Setting book??? (Dragons of Golarion???)

Years ago Dragon Magazine had an issue where you could play Dragons as PC's. Leveling would increase your HD, powers, spell-casting, etc...By the end of the 20 level progression the player was a young adult dragon, I believe. I loved it a lot and even got to use it a couple of times. Does Paizo have any intentions to possibly include this idea in the ARG or perhaps in a Campaign Setting book??? (Dragons of Golarion???)

I believe the 3.5 Draconomicon had a similar system for playing true dragons.

Years ago Dragon Magazine had an issue where you could play Dragons as PC's. Leveling would increase your HD, powers, spell-casting, etc...By the end of the 20 level progression the player was a young adult dragon, I believe. I loved it a lot and even got to use it a couple of times. Does Paizo have any intentions to possibly include this idea in the ARG or perhaps in a Campaign Setting book??? (Dragons of Golarion???)

I believe the 3.5 Draconomicon had a similar system for playing true dragons.

That is correct

and I would like to see,

Playable Yuki-onna or half-yuki-onna.

*Wikipedia has a few stories of Yuki-onna becoming wives and having children.

Years ago Dragon Magazine had an issue where you could play Dragons as PC's. Leveling would increase your HD, powers, spell-casting, etc...By the end of the 20 level progression the player was a young adult dragon, I believe. I loved it a lot and even got to use it a couple of times. Does Paizo have any intentions to possibly include this idea in the ARG

The focus of the book is races that are basically humanoid in shape (biped, two arms, two legs, one head) and 0 racial HD. There are no plans to include details on more "monstrous" creature types in this book.

Though there may be rules for creating your own scaly, winged, clawed, bitey 0HD race that you could describe as semi-quadrupedal, and call a dragon or dragonkin or whatever you wanted to call it.

Years ago Dragon Magazine had an issue where you could play Dragons as PC's. Leveling would increase your HD, powers, spell-casting, etc...By the end of the 20 level progression the player was a young adult dragon, I believe. I loved it a lot and even got to use it a couple of times. Does Paizo have any intentions to possibly include this idea in the ARG

The focus of the book is races that are basically humanoid in shape (biped, two arms, two legs, one head) and 0 racial HD. There are no plans to include details on more "monstrous" creature types in this book.

Though there may be rules for creating your own scaly, winged, clawed, bitey 0HD race that you could describe as semi-quadrupedal, and call a dragon or dragonkin or whatever you wanted to call it.

This post has calmed many of my fears about ARG, as I was slightly afraid that it will be Savage Species 2.

Deity and cosmology material for some of the more apt to be played races. Who do they worship and revere in their society?

Possibly material about running a world without humans, or a nonhuman centric world.

Origin and racial history for each race. As a GM I like to know how and where a race came into being as well as a brief history. Also tell me what is the motivator behind the race and their place in the current world. Are they a dying race? Are they a growing developing race? Are they a race in transition from nomads or warriors to a settle society? Who are their enemies and who are their allies?

Day-to-day society material for some of the more apt to be played races. Is the society active during the day, or is it nocturnal? Is it taboo to worship or trade during certain times of the day? What are some of the holidays and festivals of other races? Who rules and governs the society?

Dying races. How about a race or two that is nearing extinction and how they are handling that fact.

Some good maps of various cities, towns, villages, and camps of the more apt to be played races. Not every society thinks and builds like humans. How about a race that lives on the back of a giant animal. A race that lives on a flotilla of interconnected barges and rafts. A nomadic seafaring race of traders that detests the confines of land and nations. A race of avian or ethereal beings that live in floating city in the clouds or a mountain spire. A race that lives in the wreckage or their crashed spaceship or planar ship.

Modes of transportation. Some unusual mounts and vehicles would be nice. Not everyone rides a horse or uses an ox cart.

The focus of the book is races that are basically humanoid in shape (biped, two arms, two legs, one head) and 0 racial HD. There are no plans to include details on more "monstrous" creature types in this book.

You guys only exist to destroy my hopes and dreams of playing a half-faerie dragon in Pathfinder. Clearly. You guys are dead to me. >:(

;)

I figure I whine about this enough, eventually you'll cave. Maybe. It works here at home with the girlfriend, maybe for publishers too?

The focus of the book is races that are basically humanoid in shape (biped, two arms, two legs, one head) and 0 racial HD. There are no plans to include details on more "monstrous" creature types in this book.

You guys only exist to destroy my hopes and dreams of playing a half-faerie dragon in Pathfinder. Clearly. You guys are dead to me. >:(

;)

I figure I whine about this enough, eventually you'll cave. Maybe. It works here at home with the girlfriend, maybe for publishers too?

Wait you mean your girlfriend and you and half-faerie dragons oh my I don't even want to know.

Years ago Dragon Magazine had an issue where you could play Dragons as PC's. Leveling would increase your HD, powers, spell-casting, etc...By the end of the 20 level progression the player was a young adult dragon, I believe. I loved it a lot and even got to use it a couple of times. Does Paizo have any intentions to possibly include this idea in the ARG

The focus of the book is races that are basically humanoid in shape (biped, two arms, two legs, one head) and 0 racial HD. There are no plans to include details on more "monstrous" creature types in this book.

Though there may be rules for creating your own scaly, winged, clawed, bitey 0HD race that you could describe as semi-quadrupedal, and call a dragon or dragonkin or whatever you wanted to call it.

Sweet!! I must say that although I am not a fan of the cat-like race being mentioned here, I know I am in the minority and appreciate paizo listening to their audience who do want to see such a race in the ARG.

I would love to see a race that is half-cyclops. Perhaps this race use to be slaves to a cycloptian race on a different plane, and have just recently gained freedom through some calamitous revolt. Or catpeople of some sort works too! Regardless I'm looking forward to this book as well. It's nice that Paizo listens to it's player base and tries to implement these wishes as best as possible.

Years ago Dragon Magazine had an issue where you could play Dragons as PC's. Leveling would increase your HD, powers, spell-casting, etc...By the end of the 20 level progression the player was a young adult dragon, I believe. I loved it a lot and even got to use it a couple of times. Does Paizo have any intentions to possibly include this idea in the ARG

The focus of the book is races that are basically humanoid in shape (biped, two arms, two legs, one head) and 0 racial HD. There are no plans to include details on more "monstrous" creature types in this book.

Though there may be rules for creating your own scaly, winged, clawed, bitey 0HD race that you could describe as semi-quadrupedal, and call a dragon or dragonkin or whatever you wanted to call it.

I for one am relieved that we won't be seeing a Savage Species style monstrous classes treatment included. My wife loves playing that kind of bizarre crap and it just doesn't work out in practical terms.

For instance, the ghaele eladrin monster class from Savage Species. At 7th level that thing can become an incorporeal globe of color. Incorporeal! At 7th level! But...around that time a serious HD deficit starts to set in too. At 20th level the ghaele eladrin monster class character only has 10 HD. Say goodbye the first time a 20th level caster uses 3.5 blasphemy.

I for one am relieved that we won't be seeing a Savage Species style monstrous classes treatment included. My wife loves playing that kind of bizarre crap and it just doesn't work out in practical terms.

For instance, the ghaele eladrin monster class from Savage Species. At 7th level that thing can become an incorporeal globe of color. Incorporeal! At 7th level! But...around that time a serious HD deficit starts to set in too. At 20th level the ghaele eladrin monster class character only has 10 HD. Say goodbye the first time a 20th level caster uses 3.5 blasphemy.

No thank you to that crap. And thanks to Paizo for getting rid of it.

I never used the monster classes from Savage Species, but I would still like to see something like Savage Species be released - kind of like an APG for monsters.

I for one am relieved that we won't be seeing a Savage Species style monstrous classes treatment included. My wife loves playing that kind of bizarre crap and it just doesn't work out in practical terms.

For instance, the ghaele eladrin monster class from Savage Species. At 7th level that thing can become an incorporeal globe of color. Incorporeal! At 7th level! But...around that time a serious HD deficit starts to set in too. At 20th level the ghaele eladrin monster class character only has 10 HD. Say goodbye the first time a 20th level caster uses 3.5 blasphemy.

No thank you to that crap. And thanks to Paizo for getting rid of it.

+1, me too, what Guru said.

The only good thing about Savage Species was (and I'm not sure I will sleep well after writing this) monster templates by SKR.

If orcs, goblins, etc. are getting six pages of focus unbound by Golarion flavor, might we see some options and new flavor that step outside the alignment stereotypes they're bound to in Golarion? Even something as simple as "some orcs are something other than evil"?

Please have some options for weirder anatomy so we can have our thri-kreens, four-armed, no-arms-but-tentacles, and no-legs-but-snake-tail races. To focus the creation rules so tightly on the standard bipedal humanoid form kind of takes the wind out of the sails of getting excited over having race creation rules.

Please have some options for weirder anatomy so we can have our thri-kreens, four-armed, no-arms-but-tentacles, and no-legs-but-snake-tail races. To focus the creation rules so tightly on the standard bipedal humanoid form kind of takes the wind out of the sails of getting excited over having race creation rules.

While we'll certainly see what we can do...

...Pathfinder is INTENDED to be for player characters who are human-shaped. Everything in the rules assumes this, from the type of magic items that we build to the way combat works to the shape of things like beds and chairs in adventures.

Throwing that assumption out the window very quickly transforms it into a fundamentally different game.

There may be a way for us to present guidelines on how to build starfish pandabears or seven-legged thistleheart boarclops characters, but if we can't do that while keeping the bulk of the book something that supports Pathfinder (and by extension Golarion)... we'll abandon it.

Please have some options for weirder anatomy so we can have our thri-kreens, four-armed, no-arms-but-tentacles, and no-legs-but-snake-tail races. To focus the creation rules so tightly on the standard bipedal humanoid form kind of takes the wind out of the sails of getting excited over having race creation rules.

While we'll certainly see what we can do...

...Pathfinder is INTENDED to be for player characters who are human-shaped. Everything in the rules assumes this, from the type of magic items that we build to the way combat works to the shape of things like beds and chairs in adventures.

Throwing that assumption out the window very quickly transforms it into a fundamentally different game.

There may be a way for us to present guidelines on how to build starfish pandabears or seven-legged thistleheart boarclops characters, but if we can't do that while keeping the bulk of the book something that supports Pathfinder (and by extension Golarion)... we'll abandon it.

crosses fingers

I'm hoping ways to emulate harpies, half-snake people, and such are within reason. (like restricting flight to gliding until a minimum HD is reached)

You should read the description. Every playable race in the entire game will be in this book.

Plus new ones you can make from scratch.

Erik, can you settle a question for me? Is the dhampyr going to have abilities that it does not already have as a result of the previously printed material? I'm holding up a decision based on this for our next campaign. Thanks.

Every race in the book includes new material. It's not just the stats you already have from the monster book presented in Core Rulebook format.

Is it April yet?

Impatient are we, well I also hate waiting. But if the product is to be done right, it needs time bake into the best possible ARG

Please give us an adventure about a band of Lawful Good Orcs who try to right wrongs, mend wounds, repair bridges and generally help the world change perception of orcish race, only to perish sorrowfully in the final encounter where a generic band of plane-hopping mostly Chaotic Neutral level 15 adventurers incinerates them with a couple of well-aimed quickened fireballs, for no other reason than being short 600 XP of next level.

Every creature is a playable "race," regardless of how many Hit Dice it has. What you're asking for are rules for "balancing" a racial-HD race against the standard races in the Core Rulebook, and that is a pipe dream. Take a look at what I said over in this post in another thread last month.